The Champions League finally returns this week, with the preliminary stages over. We’re now down to the group stage, and the draw has left us with plenty of big games to enjoy. With five Premier League teams in action this week, along with Scottish champions Celtic, we’re expecting a great couple of days of action. Ahead of the opening round of fixtures, check out our tips below and get the latest and best betting odds through our odds comparison.

Manchester United return to the big time

Manchester United’s Europa League success last season has sent them straight in to the group stage, despite finishing sixth last term. Their poor league finish hasn’t landed them with a tough draw, as they’ve been given a straightforward group which begins with a home clash with Basel.

Basel have lost four of their last five matches in this competition, while Manchester United kicked off the season with three straight wins to nil. We struggle to see the Swiss side managing to compete in this trip, especially given how much money United spent to take up a place among Europe’s elite this term. We’re backing a home win to nil here, which is well priced at odds of 8/11 with Betfred.

Ahead of this round of Champions League action, you should take a look at the latest betting odds on our odds comparison. It gives you the best available price on a wide range of markets, ensuring you get the best possible return for your stake. Who wants to take a second rate price when you can add to your returns and land an even bigger winner?

How can Celtic cope with PSG’s forward line

After the high of making the Champions League group stage, Celtic’s joy was slightly crushed shortly after. They ended up with PSG and Bayern Munich in their group, which left them with next to no hope of making the last 16. They’re going to struggle to make it into the Europa League, while the top two in this group will likely run riot in their trips to Celtic Park this season.

PSG have just invested close to £400million in their front line, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar joining Edinson Cavani up front. The French side now have the greatest forward line in Europe, and we see them grabbing a few goals against the Scottish champions. Over 2.5 goals for the away side can be backed at 21/20 with Coral, and that’s our main tip with the visitors eying up this trophy after their spending.

Can Barcelona beat last season’s finalists?

Barcelona were in awful shape through most of the knockout round last term, winning one of four matches and even underwhelming in a 6-1 win over PSG. They lost 3-0 on aggregate to Juventus, who they host this week. These two will be battling for first place, but how will the Italians approach this one? They set up for a 0-0 with a 3-0 lead last season, but will they express themselves more in the group stage?

With less on the line, we predict a more open Juventus heading to Barcelona this week. The fact that the Italian champions have also lost Leo Bonucci doesn’t help, as they aren’t going to be as solid as they once were. We think Barca will make a breakthrough, and Juve will need to rely on their impressive forward options to get them a goal. We think you can get great value on both teams to score in this huge clash, which is priced at nice odds of 7/10 with Bet365. Barca aren’t exactly solid at the back, so we doubt they will get out of this one with a clean sheet.

Expect goals at Anfield once again

Liverpool are back in the Champions League, but can Jurgen Klopp repeat his 2013 run to the final. The Reds probably lack the defensive strength needed to get them over the line in this competition, so we think they’ll fall short of winning the trophy. However, they have an attacking line up which can strike fear into most of Europe, so we’re predicting them to go out on the offensive when they host Sevilla this week.

The Spanish side have made a solid start, scoring in every game and conceding in all but one. However, they struggled in their Champions League play-off win. The Spaniards drew 2-2 at home to Istanbul Basaksehir after a 2-1 away win, which hints that they could struggle against Liverpool. However, the Reds also shipped three goals against Hoffenheim in their play-off, so we see lots goals here. The Reds have so much going forward that we see them winning this group, so we’re backing a home win and BTTS at 23/10 with Ladbrokes.

Can Manchester City improve in Europe?

Manchester City have to be the best equipped English side to win this trophy, given their manager’s record of late and their summer spending. They’re heavy favourites to see off Feyenoord this week, but we think this will be a tight game. The Dutch side don’t concede too many, while City’s early Premier League games have been littered with missed chances and they’re yet to really gel up front.

Feyenoord saw just a single goal scored in their three home Europa League games last term, and we think the way they’ll set up will give us another low scoring game. City would be content with a narrow win to start off, and Feyenoord don’t exactly have enough up front to threaten the Premier League side. That’s why we’re backing City to win and under 2.5 goals in this one, which seems like the bet of the week in terms of value. It can be backed at huge odds of 11/4 with Bet365, which looks like a big price given City’s mild start to the league campaign.

Can Tottenham survive the group of death?

Tottenham have been handed a tough draw in the Champions League, against Borussia Dortmund and holders Real Madrid. They need to edge out the Germans to qualify, so they’re kicking off with a crucial home tie against Dortmund. The Bundesliga side have been weakened this summer, so they could be vulnerable. They’ve certainly got gaps to exploit at the back, and we think Spurs might get the big Wembley win they desperately need. We’re backing a Spurs win, which is available at odds of 11/8 with Ladbrokes this week. While they crashed out early last term, we think Mauricio Pochettino’s men will have learned enough to improve this time around.

Don’t forget to check out our odds comparison before you go and place your next bets. Even if you’re ignoring our Champions League predictions and following a few betting tips of your own, it’s worth double checking that you’re getting the best price. With so many bookmakers out there, there’s always room for a little more value in your singles and accumulators.